Shane said nothing.
“That representation was inconsistent with the recorded deed.”
She looked directly at him.
“Because of that discrepancy, the transfer has been placed on hold.”
Misty interrupted.
“But it can still be transferred, right?”
“Not without the signatures of the actual owners.”
Her eyes moved toward me.
“And because one of those owners is a minor beneficiary under the original instrument, additional legal requirements may apply.”
Emily.
My daughter.
Misty’s face fell.
Shane stood.
“So Michelle can just refuse?”
Daniel looked at him.
“She doesn’t have to refuse. She simply has to decline to sign away her property.”
Shane’s face reddened.
“You can’t do this to family.”
I looked at him.
“That’s exactly what you’ve been trying to do to me.”
He didn’t answer.
Daniel closed his folder.
“There is one more matter.”
He placed the bank statements on the table.
“We’ve reviewed the documents Michelle provided.”
My mother looked frightened.
Daniel turned toward her.
“Your bank statements indicate numerous transactions from locations associated with Shane’s household.”
Shane immediately said, “I didn’t take anything.”
“I didn’t accuse you.”
“You think I stole Mom’s card?”
“I said the transactions need to be explained.”
Misty suddenly stood.
“We’re leaving.”
“Sit down,” Shane told her.
She stared at him.
He looked nervous.
Very nervous.
Daniel continued.
“Michelle is not accusing anyone of theft at this moment. But your mother reported her card missing, and there are transactions that she says she did not authorize.”
My mother whispered:
“I didn’t.”
Shane looked at her.
“You told me I could use it.”
The room went silent.
My mother’s head snapped up.
“What?”
“For groceries.”
“I never said you could use my card.”
“You said you would help us.”
“I said I would help with the children.”
“You gave me the card.”
“No.”
Shane’s face changed.
Misty grabbed his arm.
“Shane.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“Stop.”
That one word changed everything.
I looked at Misty.
She looked terrified.
Daniel noticed it too.
He quietly gathered the statements.
“We don’t need to resolve that today.”
Shane sat down.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then my mother said something I never expected.
“Michelle.”
I looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
Two words.
After nine years.
Two words that should have meant everything.
Instead, they felt incredibly small.
“Why?”
She looked at me.
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of losing Shane.”
I felt tears forming.
“You were afraid of losing him, so you were willing to lose me?”
She cried.
“I didn’t think you’d leave.”
“I almost did.”
“I know.”
“No, Mom. You don’t.”
I stood.
